Machine for napping or sueding textile fabrics



Sept. 13, 1938. v L A RUN-[ON 2,129,877

MACHINE FOR NAPPING OR SUEDING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed oct. 7, 195e 5 sheets-Sheet 1 ""N w b D :XV- 4N n@ u Sept. 13, 1938. l| A. RUNToN MACHINE FOR NAPPING OR vSUEDING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Oct. '7, 1956 3, Sheets-Sheet 2 www Sept. 13,1938. L. A. RUNTON- 2,129,877

` MACHINE FOR NAPPING 0R SUEDING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Oct. 7, 1936 f 5 SheetSl-Sheet 3 y Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR NAPPING OR SUEDING TEXTILE FABRICS Leslie A. Runton, Andover, Mass.

Application October 7, 1936, Serial No. 104,491

8 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved machine for napping, or sueding, textile fabrics.

By textile fabrics is meant to include textile fabrics of all kinds, whether woven, braided, or

knitted.

By napping, or sueding, is meant to include such lifting, or raising of the surface fibres of the fabric as will enhance its handle, appearance, and light reiiecting qualities; impart velvetlike softness of texture, with improved draping qualities, and suppleness.

'Ihe present machine is one of a type especially designed to practice the process of napping textile fabrics according to the process described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 76,774.

t According to this process the textile fabric is napped by the action of a rotated abrasive roll. During the operation of this roll the fabric is held against the roll by a backing support against which the roll has bearing through the interposed fabric. With the parts thus arranged the fabric held taut or tensely stretched, is drawn taut past said roll and backing support by means independent of the operation of the abrasive roll whereby displacement of the fabric by said roll during the operation thereof will be prevented or checked. In` this connection it will be explained that the nap-ping action of the abrasive roll is a cutting operation, and the roll exerts great force to displace the fabric, or throw it forward during the cutting operation. 'Ihis tendency is materially increased where a backing support is employed, as it necessarily is employed to obtain proper napping effect, and this especially if the backing support presents a relatively soft, or resilient, face against which the roll is pressing through the interposed fabric during the cutting operation. If the fabric is displaced by the abrasive roll during its napping operation this will not prevent the abrasive roll napping the fabric, but it will prevent fine and proper napping, in which chatter marks, or other defects usually found, are reduced to a minimum. According to my said process the fabric is preferably subjected to the action of a plurality of rotated abrasive rolls successively arranged, certain of which are rotated in direction opposite to the direction of rotation of other of said rolls. The object of the present invention is in a general way to provide a machine well fitted for practicing my process as above outlined, and includes the following objectives:

To broaden the effective cutting area of the abrasive rolls over that ordinarily obtained in order to obtain increased speed in napping.

To provide sockets in which the abrasive rolls operate; to provide means assisting in the drag of the fabric through these sockets; and to provide means for directing the fabric held taut into and out of these sockets during the drag of the fabric.

To provide for an easy threading through the machine of fabric to be napped, and to facilitate proper and extact coordination between the abrasive rolls and the backing support for the fabric preliminary to the napping operation; and

To provide means assisting in holding the fabric taut as it is draw`n through the machine past the abrasive rolls, and for spreading the fabric in order that it may receive to the best advantage the cutting operation effected by these rolls.

'I'he invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.-

Fig. 4 is a cross section of certain of the processing rolls and associated rolls; and

Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4, with slight modication in construction.

Referring to the drawings:

I represents the base of the machine, generally rectangular in form and provided at the centre with a'raised centre piecev 2. Extending from the base and its raised centre piece are a number of arms 3 which support an elevated frame, generally rectangular in form, and provided with end bars 4, 4, respectively, and double spaced side bars 5, 6, 5, 6, respectively. Each set of side bars 5, 6 is connected by ribs 1.

It is within this frame that the bed 8 of the machine is located, over which the fabric 9 is drawn to Vbe processed bythe processing rolls l0 located above the bed.

That portion of the `frame consisting of the end bars 4, 4 and side bars 5, 5, embrace the bed on all sides and assist in its retention against endwise and lateral displacement. These bars present, also, guiding surfaces Il on which the bed may slide vertically, for as will later be explained, the bed is a vertically adjustable bed, adjustable as a whole in relation to the'processing rolls.

That portion of the frame consisting of the side bars 5, 6, 5, 6, provide support for the bearings of the processing vrolls, and also for the bear- .ings of other rolls, associated with the processing Al I) rolls, which assist in the movement of the fabric through the machine.

The bed 8 is supported from off the raised centre piece 2 on the base of the machine. This centre piece is hollow with its interior machined to provide a vertical rectangular way I2 in which slides a carriage I3. Arms I4 extend from this carriage to connect with the bed for supporting it.

The carriage is movedupwardly or downwardly within its guide, or maintained in any adjusted position, for obtaining and maintaining any de-Y sired adjusted positioning of the bed, by means of a cam I6.

The bed 8, preferably made of steel, an'dlprefer ably, also, a concave bed, is provided with a number of raised spaced sections, or heads 22, preferably integral with thebed body. Each of these heads is provided kwith a socket presenting a curved surface, or face, 23, and into which sockets of the respective heads, segmental parts of the respective cutting. rolls t; to have. when the rolls are rotated, cutting engagement with the fabric 9 drawn over said heads through said sockets. The curved surface 23 of each socket is cut on an arc of` approximately 80 and the curvature of the surface is the same as that of the roll co-operating with it. The extent of each curved surface in the longitudinal direction of the machine depends upon the size of the-roll. The extent of each curved surface laterally is a little more than the width of the fabric to be processed, not including its selvedge edge, the desire being that the selvedge edge of the fabric shall extend beyond the sides of the bed so it will not be processed inthe operation of the machine.

It is the better practice in all cases, and necessary at least in some, to provide each socket with a resilientfacing 15 as yshown inFig.. 5. This facing may be of any suitable relatively softfvresilient material ,suchy as sponge rubber.

Where the abrasive rollris working upon-the fabric backed by a relatively flat or outwardly curved or convex surfacehaving a resilient orpad facing, though this facing is lindented bythe pressure of the roll to present a surface of some appreciable Width, yet the actual cutting takes place only where the surface or pad is most highly indented. This maybe referred yto as the cutting point, and this point will vary somewhat in width, depending among other factors, upon the applied pressure and upon the size of the roll, the largerthe roll thewider will be the cutting point. By providing'thebed, or pad, over which the fabric is-tautly drawn. during the cutting operation, with a socket-as described into which a segmental part of the roll fits then the cutting point is-somewhat widenedAthus-.enabling increased speedl in napping. Y

The processing rolls Il)V are coveredfwith any abrasive material suitablefor effecting the nap cutting operation. Thetlast one'of theprocessing rolls may, however, be aflnishing roll and provided withY suitablev clothing, or' bristles, for

such finishing.

The rolls I are preferably made sectionalfin character with heads, or ends`,`25, and connecting steel tubeA 25 welded thereon. VExtending from the ends of `each rollare trunnions 21, preferably frustra-conical in shape. These'trunmember and threaded into the trunnion. This cam is mounted on a shaft- I1 journalled to turn on the bed of the machine. v

nions turn, respectively, in bearings 28 and 25 at the opposite ends of the roll. Of these the bearing 28 is a motor carrying bearing, carrying an electric motor 30, for each processing roll has its own electric motor for operating it. The bearing 29 is a motorlessbearing. The roll trunnions 21 are mounted to turn Within their respective bearings by attaching to each of the trunnions a T-shaped member 32 having a conical socket 33 into which the trunnion fits and to which the T-shaped member is attached by a bolt 34 passed centrally through the T-shaped The T-shaped attachments to the respective trunnions turn within the respective bearings through interposed ball bearings 35. Access is had to these bearings for lubricating them by removing an annular plate 36 which is secured by screws 31 to the respective bearings on the sides thereof facing'the roll.

At the motor bearing end of the roll the bearing 28 is xed to, and preferably as shown, forms an integral part of the exterior stator casing of the electric motor 30. The head of its T-shaped member 32 is welded to the flanged end of a hollow spindle, or cylindrical core 39, to the rotor of the electric motor, andby which means of connection, the roll is driven. The outside end of the motor casing is closed by a cap 4i) threaded to fit thereon, and access is had to the bolt 34 for removing it, and thus detaching the motor end of the roll from its-bearing 28, on removing this cap. At the opposite, or motorless end of the roll the bearing 29 is covered by a cap 4I screw tted to fit thereon. On removing this cap access is had for removing the bolt 34 and thus detaching the motorless end of the roll fromiits bearing. Access is, also,had to the ball individual adjustment. In other words, the roll i is supported in such manner as to be brought forcibly into engagement Withthe fabric 9 and curved surface with which the roll is co-operating, and this with an absolute refinement of adjustment, and, any desired degree of pressure, for, among other factors-the amount of pressure of these rolls upon the fabric and bed is subject to;change, depending upon the kind of fabric that is-beingprocessed and the effect desired to be attained.. To this end each of the processing rolls is mounted inthe following manner, and rst with reference to the motor bearing end of the roll.- From-the under side of each motor casingv there extends a bracket 45 having in it an eye 46. This eye fits within the forkedend 41-of a post 48, and is pivoted thereto by a pin 49'extendingvthrough the forked'end 41 of the post and through the eye 46 in the bracket. The post extends downwardly to pass through the upper side bar of the frame. At its lower end the post is extended by an adjustable sleeve 5I) whichis threaded to the post to turn thereon. This sleeve bears against'the bottom side bar 6 of theframe.` By adjusting the sleeve the post may be lengthened 'or shortened. On the post is a scale 5I with which`the upper edge 52of the sleeve coincides for indicating the precise adjustment of the post. The sleeve is maintained in any adjusted position by a bar 53 fixed to the side of the sleeve and bearing a clamp 54 which encircles the post. On loosening this clamp the post may be lengthened or shortened to any adjusted position by turning the sleeve and this adjustment is maintained by tightenl ing the clamp 54 which locks the sleeve to the post.

At a point below the side bar 5 of the frame the post bears a collar 56. Interposed between this collar and the side bar 5 is a coil spring 51.

The mounting for the motorless end of the roll is precisely the same excepting that the bracket instead of projecting from the under side of the motor as at the under side of the roll, depends from the bearing 29 for this motorless end of the roll.

The coil springs 5'! by their bearing against the collars 56 on the respectivevposts for the opposite ends of the roll are of sufficient tension to hold down the roll with any maximum degree of force against the fabric within the socket in which the roll is working, the precise pressure at which the springs are holding the roll to bear against the fabric being obtained by lengthening or shortening the posts through adjustment of the sleeves thereon.

'Ihe mounting of the rolls on the posts as described permits of an easy application of the rolls to the machine or their removal therefrom for on removing the bolts 34 the bearings for each roll may be turned back away from the roll, each pivoting on the pin 49 by which it is attached to a supporting post 118.

The fabric held taut, or tensely stretched, is drawn taut over the bed of the machine past the processing rolls during the operation thereof. 60 represents the takeoff roll on which the fabric is to be processed or napped is wound. From this roll the fabric runs upwardly to a tension device 6l which resists draw of the fabric through the machine and assists in holding the fabric taut. After passing the tension device the fabric passes beneath an idler 62 and thence upwardly over a scroll or spreader 63 which operates to spread the fabric just before its initial entry onto the bed of the machine. In order to properly function as a spreader roll this roll is driven in a direction counter to the run of the fabric and accordingly assists the tension device in exerting drag upon the fabric. The spreader roll is operated by a motor 64 on the frame. After passing the bed on the rear side of the machine the fabric engages a set of draw rolls 65 and 66, passing beneath the roll 65, thence between the two rolls and over the'roll 66, and is wound up on a takeup roll 51. The rolls 65 and 65 are driven rolls, the roll B5 being driven by a motor o. 58 on the frame of the machine and the roll 55 being driven from off the roll 65 by suitable geared connection thereto.

For the purpose of assisting in drawing the fabric over the bed of the machine through the sockets feed rolls 'NJ are provided immediately adjacent the sockets between the heads 22. Supplementing these rolls are idlers il which assist in directing the fabric into and out of the respective sockets. The rolls 'I0 and 'H are journaled to turn in bearings 'l2 on the frame bar 5. The rolls 1li are each of the same size as the driven roll 65 and each is driven at the same speed as the roll 65 through a sprocket and chain connection 73 between the shaft of the roll 65 and the shafts of the rolls 10. The roll 65 and the rolls 'l0 are, preferably, covered with some suitable covering as will enable them to get a good grip on the fabric.

I claim:

1. A fabric napping machine comprising a number of napping rolls, a bed having a number of spaced raised heads, each head having a socket presenting a curved face and into which sockets of the respective heads segmental parts of the respective rolls fit, means whereby said rolls and bed may be brought into such conjunctive relation that as the fabric is drawn taut through said sockets the rolls will have napping engagement with the fabric as the rolls are rotated, and means including mechanism adjacent said heads for dragging the fabric taut over said heads and through said sockets.

2. A fabric napping machine comprising a number of napping rolls, a bed having a number of spaced raised heads, each head having a socket presenting a curved resilient facing and into which sockets of the respective heads segmental parts of the respective rolls fit; to have, when the rolls are rotated, napping engagement with the fabric drawn over the resilient facings of said heads through said sockets, means whereby Isaid rolls and bed may be brought into such conjunctive relation that as the fabric is drawn taut through said sockets over the resilient faces thereof the rolls will have napping engagement with the fabric as the rolls are rotated, and means including mechanism adjacent said heads for dragging the fabric taut through said sockets over the resilient facings thereof.

3. In a machine for napping textile fabrics, a number of napping rolls, a bed over which the fabric is drawn and with which the roll co-operates to effect the napping operation on the fabric drawn over said bed during the rotation of said rolls, means for mounting said bed whereby it may be adjustably moved as a whole in relation to said rolls and maintained in determinate ad justed position, and means for mounting said rolls whereby each may have its individual adjustment with relation to said bed.

4. In a machine for napping textile fabrics, a frame, means for supporting said frame, a bed within said frame, a number of napping rolls arranged above said bed adjacent thereto, means for adjustably supporting said bed whereby it may be moved as a whole in relation to said rolls and maintained in determinate adjusted position, means for adjustably mounting said rolls on said frame whereby each may have its individual adjustment with relation to said bed, and means mounted on said frame whereby the fabric may be drawn taut over said bed.

5. A fabric napping machine comprising a napping roll, a bed having a socket presenting a curved face and into which socket a segmental part of the roll fits to have napping engagement with the fabric .drawn through said socket when roll and bed are in proper conjunctive relation, means whereby said abrasive roll and bed may be brought into said conjunctive relation, means arranged fore and aft of said roll for holding the fabric taut and drawing it held taut through said socket, and means for directing the fabric into and out of said socket during the drag of th fabric.

6. A fabric napping machine comprising a napping roll, a bed having a socket presenting a curved face and into which socket a segmental part of the roll fits to have napping engagement with the fabric drawn through said socket when roll and bed are in proper conjunctive relation, means whereby said abrasive roll and bed may be brought into said conjunctive relation, means arranged fore and aft of said roll for holding the fabric taut and drawing it held taut through said socket, and means adjacent said socket assisting in the drag of the fabric through said socket.

7. A fabric napping machine lcomprising a napping roll, a bed having a socket presenting a curved face and into which socket a segmental part of the roll ts to have napping engagement with the fabric drawn through said socket when roll and bed are in proper conjunctive relation, means whereby said abrasive roll and bed may be brought into said conjunctive relation, means arranged fore and aft of said roll for holding the fabric taut and drawing it held taut through said socket, means adjacent said socket assisting in the drag of the fabric through said socket, and means for directing the fabric into and out of said socket during the drag of the fabric.

8. A machine for napping textile fabrics comprising a bed over which the fabric is drawn, means beyond the bed for drawing the fabric over it, means in the path of the fabric leading to the bed for i-mpeding its passage to the bed whereby the fabric is pulled taut, a plurality of spaced napping rolls successively arranged to engage the fabric when drawn over the bed, means whereby the relative position of said rolls and bed may be changed and said rolls as a whole may be made to have engaging or disengaging position with relation to the fabric drawn over the bed, individual mountings for each of the rolls Whereby each roll may be adjusted to have proper operative engagement with the fabric when drawn over the bed and as the roll is rotated, and means for rotating said rolls.

LESLIE A. RUNTON. 

